Sander for railway rolling stock



r 1, 14,2 7 Jan. 11 1927. w. H. QUIN 6 0 SANDER FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Filed Oct 51, 1924 Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNlTE. fi't'AT "WILLIAM QUIN, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

SANDER FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK.

Application filed October 31, 1924. Serial No. 746,942.

This invention relates to sanders adapted to apply sand between the wheels of railway rolling stock and the rails on which they run and my object is to devise sanding apparatus operable by air pressure which is easily controlled, which will accurately and with certainty apply the sand closely between the wheels and the rail, which will enable the sand receptacles to be positioned in any convenient location, by means of which sand may be simultaneously applied to a plurality of pairs of wheels; and which is adapted to be actuated from the emergency control of a vehicle equipped with an air brake system.

I attain my objects by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view showing parts of a vehicle provided wit-h my improved sander;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of one of the sand receptacles;

Fig. 3 a side elevation, partly in section, of the valve operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 a side elevation of part of the vehicle illustrating the method of supporting the delivery end of the sand delivering Fig. 5 a longitudinal T-couplings of the sand delivery pipe;

Fig. 6 a longitudinal section of one of the T-connections in the air pipes leading to the sand receptacles;

Fig. 7 a cross section of the air valve;

Fig. 8 a diagrammatic view showing the parts of the valve superimposed in the off position, the ports and passages being shown in dotted and broken lines; and

Fig. 9 a similar view showing the valve in the on position.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

In Fig. 1 I show the trucks of an electrically-driven street car, 1 being the wheels and 2 the motor housings, which are usually supported in fixed relationship to the axles of the wheels. The trucks are pivoted to the body of the vehicle in the usual manner, and are adapted to swing relative there to. The sanding apparatus is supported mainly above the floor 3 of the vehicle,-the

section of one of the discharge ends of the sand-delivery pipes of the apparatus being, however, secure to the motor housings as hereinafter more fully described.

The vehicle is assumed to be equipped with air brakes, and, as shown, is provided with the usual high pressure air tank d and the low pressure tank 5 fed from the high pressure tank in the ordinary manner.

At any convenient part of the vehicle are located the sand receptacles 6, preferably two in number, one for each truck of the vehicle. Each receptacle is constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The body of each container is preferably a cylindrical tube of sheet metal, which is fitted to a cast bottom having a central aperture therein, below which is formed a conical chamber 7. A valve 8, preferably shaped as a hollow cone open at the bottom, co-operates with this aperture from below and is provided with the stem 9 movable in a guide 10 secured to the bottom of the receptacle and in a diaphragm 11 located adjacent the top of the receptacle. This diaphragm has an opening therein at one side covered with a screen 12, this opening being located just below the door 13 adjacent the top of the receptacle through which the receptacle can be filled.

A partition let extending up from the diaphragm closes off the chamber 15 in which is located the pneumatic mechanism for actuating the valve. The upper end of the valve stem 9 is provided with a tap'pet 16 against which bears one end of acoil spring 17, the lower end bearing against a shoulder formed on a guide 18 formed on the diaphragm. This spring thus tends'to hold the valve 8 closed. The pneumatic valve-operating mechanism comprises a cylinder 19 in which operates a plunger 20 normally held raised by means of a coil spring 21 located within the cylinder. The plunger is provided with a stem 22 adapted to engage the tappet 16 to depress the valve stem.

Communicating with the interior of the cylinder above the plunger is a pipe 23, which at its other end communicates with the low pressure air tank 5. Suitable valve mechanism is provided for controlling the flow of air in this pipe as hereinafter de scribed.

24 is an air nozzle, which opens into the interior of the chamber 7 adjacent its lower end. This air nozzle is shown as formed integral with the wall of the chamber, but numerous modifications of this construction are possible. With this air nozzlecommunicates the pipe 25 leading to the high pres sure air tank 4. Suitable valve mechanism is provided in this line as hereinafter described.

To the lower end of the conical chamber 7 is connected the sand delivery pipe This sand delivery pipe runs along below the floor'of the vehicle and connects with a T 27 which communicates with the branches 28, each of which includes a flexible section 29. The T is supported from the floor of the vehicle, while the rigid portions of the branches are carried by brackets 30 secured to one of the motor housings 2. The dis charge ends of these branches are extended rearwardly as close as possible between the wheels and tracks on which they run, so as to waste as little sand as possible. These delivery pipes are preferably of small diameter relative to the width of the rail, and each has the end of its bore protected from drip by the provision of an overhang 31, which preferably not only extends rearwardly from the end of the bore, but also downwardly at each side as shown particularly in Fig. 4. Many variations of the specific construction shown herein are, of course, possible.

While the discharge ends of the branches of the sand delivery pipe are thus held in fixed relationship to the wheels, the flexible sections 29 provide for the movement of the car body relative to the wheels, which necessarily occurs.

The T 27 is preferably provided with a septum 32 located in its stem serving to divide sand and air evenly between its two branches.

The operation of the device as so far described is as follows. Air is admitted simultaneously to the cylinder 19 and the air nozzle 24. Sand then flows into the chamber 7 and is driven therefrom through the sand delivery pipe to the discharge end of ts branches. The control of the admission of air to the cylinder and the air nozzle is preferably by means of a single valve, such as shown particularly in Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.

The valve comprises two parts 33 and 34 of disk-like form, the part 34 lying face to face with the part 33 and mounted to rotate relative thereto by means of the bolt 35 passing through the two. A spring 36 engages the part 33 and a nut and washer 37 on the bolt, thus keeping the two parts pressed into close contact. In the part are formed oil passages communicating with an oil cup 38 secured to the side of the part 33 and which also communicate through small openings 39 with the contacting faces of the two disks.

The part of the valve has five ports formed therein, a port 40 for the entrance of air passing through the pipe 23 from the low pressure air tank, a port etl for the entrance of air passing through the pipe 25 from the high pressure air tank, a port 42 for the exit of air passing to the pneumatic control of the sander valves, a port 64 for the exit of air passing to the air nozzles of the sanders, and an exhaust port 65 for the exhaust of air from the aforesaid pneumatic control means.

The part 34 is provided with three ports 66, 67 and 68, an arc-shaped slot 69 opening through its face, a passage in its body forming a communication between the port 66 and the slot 69, and a passage '51. in its body forming a communication between the ports 67 and 68.

When the valve is in its on position, the ports 67, 68 and passage 71 form a communication between the ports 41 and 64:, thus permitting high pressure air to flow to the air nozzles of the sand receptacles. At the same time the port 66, passage 70 and slot 69 form a communication between the ports 40 and 42, thus permitting low pressure air to flow to the cylinders of the pneumatic operating mechanism for the sander valves.

When the valve is in its off position, the ports 41 and 64 of the high pressure air are closed off and the inlet port 40 of the low pressure air also closed off. At the same time the slot 69 forms a communication between the port 42 and the exhaust port 65, thus venting the pressure from the cylinders aforesaid.

This valve, it will be seen, when moved to the on position admits low pressure air to the cylinder 19 and high pressure air to the air nozzle 24. In the off position the supply of high pressure air to the air nozzle is cut off and the cylinder 19 exhausted to the atmosphere.

To the rotary part 34: of the valve is secured a lever 43 by means of which it may be manually operated. In order that it may be operated by the foot, I provide the pedal i i suitably mounted on the floor of the vebicle. A connecting rod 45 is pivotally connected with the lever 43 and extends through an opening in the bottom of the casing 4:0. To the lower end of this connecting rod is connected a link 47, the lower end of which is connected by means of a coil spring 48 with the pedal l i. This spring prevents damage to the parts if the motorman suddenly jumps on the pedal. Screws i9 and 50 threaded into the parts of the casing 46 serve to iimit the movements of the leverin either direction and are adjustable so that the valve is always brought accurately to its on or off position. A coil spring 51 tends to move the lever to retain the valve in its oft position. A

In order that the sander may be operated from the air brake system of the vehicle, I provide on the casing 46 a cylinder 52, in which is located-the plunger 53 provided with the stem 54. The lower end of this stem engages a cup which engages a ball 55, the last two mentioned parts being located in a slotted guide 56, through which passes the lever 43. This ball thus forms an antifriction bearing between the stem 54c and the lever. A coil spring 57 within the cylinder tends to lift the plunger. A pipe 58 communicates with the interior of the cylinder above the plunger. This pipe in practice will communicate with part of the air brake system of the'vehicle through which air passes when an emergency stop is to be effected, so that the tracks will be sanded without special attention on the part of the motorman.

As seen particularly on reference to- Fig. 1, the sanding equipment is duplicated, each truck having a sand delivery pipe leading from a sand reservoir to the respective branches, the air pipes at the outlet side of the valve being suitably branched to lead to the valves and air nozzles of the two sand receptacles. A special T 59 is provided in the pipe 25 and this T is provided with a septum 60 as shown particularly in Fig. 6 to insure an equitable distribution of the air to the two branches of the air nozzles.

For clearing obstructions in the sand delivery pipes, itis preferable to provide each of the conical chambers 7 with an opening normally closed by a screw plug 61. If this plug be removed and the nozzle of a pipe screwed into the opening, air under high pressure may be introduced to the. chamber to blow out the sand delivery pipe. This air will forcibly hold the valve 8 to its seat so that no air flows back through the sand receptacle.

The sand receptacle is preferably provided with openings 62 at different levels, by means of which the level of the sand in the receptacle may be observed. The lower openings are provided with pivoted covers 63 of ordinary type.

What I claim is 1. A sander system for railway rolling stock provided with high pressure and low pressure air storage tanks comprising a sand receptacle having an outlet at its lower end; a alve controlling the outlet; a sand delivery pipe leading from the outlet to a place of delivery; an air pipe lea ding from the high pressure tank and having a nozzle below the outlet discharging into the sand delivery pipe; pneumatic mechanism for GOIltlOlliIig the valve; a pipe from the low pressure tank leading to said pneumatic mechanism; and valve mechanism for controlling the flow of air through said pipes to open the valve to cause a flow of sand and to blow the sand through the delivery pipe.

2. A sander system for railway rolling stock provided with high pressure and low pressure air storage tanks comprising a sand receptacle having an outlet at its lower end; a valve controlling the outlet; a sand delivery pipe leading from the outlet to a place of delivery; an air pipe leading from the high pressure tank and having a nozzle below the outlet discharging into the sand delivery pipe; pneumatic mechanism for controlling the valve; yielding means tending to hold the valve closed; a pipe from the low pressure tank leading to said pneumatic mechanism; and a single valve controlling the flow of air through said pipes adapted in one position to permit a flow of air through both pipes to open the valve to cause a iiow of sand and to blow the sand through the delivery pipe and in another position to exhaust air from the pneumatic apparatus to permit the valve to close and to close off the air supply to the nozzle.

3. A sander system for railway rolling stock provided with high pressure and low pressure air storage tanks com arising a sand receptacle having an outlet at its lower end; a valve controlling the outlet; a sand delivery pipe leading from the outlet to a place of'delivery; an air pipe leading from the high pressure tank and having a nozzle below the outlet discharging into the sand delivery pipe; pneumatic mechanism for controlling the valve; yielding means tending to hold the valve closed; a pipe from the low pressure tank leading to said pneumatic mechanism; and a single valve controlling the flow of air through said pipes adapted in one position to permit a flow of air through both pipes to open the valve to cause a flow of sand and to blow the sand through the delivery pipe and in another position to exhaust air from the pneumatic apparatus to permit the valve to close and to close otl the air supply to the nozzle; a lever adapted to actuate said valve; pneumatic means for moving said lever to open the valve; and a spring tending to close the valve, the lever being operable independently of the said pneumatic means.

t. A sander system for railway rolling stock provided with a motor housing in fixed relationship with the wheel axles and a truck pivoted to the body of the vehicle, compris- 'ng a sand receptacle adapted to be supported on the body of the vehicle; a sand delivery pipe extending from the receptacle and supported on the body of the vehicle; a T in said sand delivery pipe; branches in said pipe extending from said T in an outwardly and downwardly direction to a point adjacent the point of contact of a Wheel with movement of the body relative to the Wheels; a track, and secured to the motor housing and pneumatic means fordischarging sand whereby the outlet of each branch is held in from said receptacle through said pipe. 10 fixed relationship With the Wheels and track, Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 17th day and a flexible section in each of the branches of October, 1924-.

adapted to permit of the swinging of the Wheels relative to the body and the vertical VILLIAM H. QUIN. 

